Sight Lines (The Arsenal Book 2) Read online

  The Collective was probably behind it all. Vi’s chest squeezed as the shock and pain flashed through Jacob’s face. Guilt and rage harshened Jud’s face. His employer had kidnapped his nephew’s dad. He’d likely already put the pieces together, but it was becoming more abundantly clear. If he had any doubt. She didn’t exactly have room to throw stones. How long had she and Mary denied the fact Hive was dirty? That everything they’d worked so hard to achieve had been tainted by corruption and greed?

  Yeah, it was easy to look at a situation from a bird’s eye view and cast judgment, call bullshit on what seemed obvious from a distance. But when someone was in the trenches, mired in the bullshit for so long it was hard to smell it any longer—especially when someone you supposedly trust and rely on was the one crapping on what you care about. She glanced around the room and noted the matching expressions of empathy and patience.

  Anger and determination.

  “The Collective did this?” Tears trekked down the boy’s face. “Why would they do that?”

  “Leverage,” Vi said. “Someone familiar with your uncle’s track record wanted leverage to get him to do what they wanted. Your dad is their ace in the hole.”

  Jacob shook his head. “No. They wouldn’t use Dad because it’d piss Uncle Jud off, and no one smart ever does that. Not if they want to keep breathing.”

  Vi couldn’t help but smile at the conviction within Jacob’s voice. He had no doubt his uncle was the best.

  “Let’s take a few steps back and start at ground zero. Then we can get to the questions of who and why,” Mary suggested. “Tell us about Danny’s work with Palmetto.”

  “I have his bio,” Jacob said. He yanked his notebook from the backpack and thumbed through it. “It’s more of a list of assignments he’s had over the years. Will this help?”

  He slid the notebook across the table. Cord reached over and grabbed it. He grinned.

  “Nice lists, man. You’ll fit in good with these two. They have lists for their lists.”

  “Wicked,” Jacob replied. “They help me sort my thoughts.”

  “Me, too,” Vi admitted.

  Jud helped fill in the holes of the Palmetto data she’d unearthed. Danny went missing on a stretch of highway deep within the Golden Crescent, one of the heaviest areas of opium growers and suppliers in the world. The area was rife with political unrest and in the middle of highly sought-after terrain. Local drug lords controlled growth over around ninety percent of the world’s opium production.

  “Naturally Peter and Martin took a cut of the profits for their assistance in easing any trafficking concerns with their connections, but how does Palmetto Pointe play into this?” Addy asked.

  Vi noted the tension in her friend’s voice. She couldn’t imagine how Addy’d gotten through all she had. Finding out your only brother was a scum-sucking leech on humanity was bound to be difficult. “Palmetto and their counterpart, Palmetto Pointe, are the primary contractors in the area. They offer engineering and logistical support for a lot of the local building initiatives.”

  “Dad’s an engineer, the best.”

  Which would explain why he was dragged over to the region despite what’d happened in the past. I’d do anything for that kid. The words from years ago haunted Vi as they ran through the data. She and Mary unearthed what little documentation there was.

  “Someone’s scrubbed records,” Cord surmised.

  “Pretty much,” Mary said.

  “The question is who,” Jud said.

  “I’m thinking you already know the answer. He’s been gone a while now, long enough for someone to reach out and yank that chain, extend an offer you couldn’t refuse,” Dallas said. He leaned back in his chair and pinned Jud with a malevolent glare.

  “I figured they were involved when Jian phoned. He has other clients, but it takes a big bank account to fund an operation of this magnitude.” Jud’s voice offered no emotion, no subtext.

  “And we’re supposed to believe you’d not only pass up that much money, but offer protection?” Marshall chuckled. “This isn’t Hollywood. We’re not dumb enough to fall for that scripted crap.”

  “Never thought you were.” Jud crossed his arms. “I’ve operated in the shadows a long time, done things so black it’s in my marrow. I had one rule going in. My family stays clean. Someone broke that rule. That’s why I’m here. No one jerks my chain, especially the one tied to my family.”

  Silence descended a few moments. The Mason brothers looked at one another. Vi sensed the shift in their mindset. With the few sentences Jud had climbed up a few pegs as far as most of the operatives in the room were concerned. Family was the most important thing to the Masons.

  “I’m not bending over for anyone. Ever. Someone breaks my rule, I break them in a way that sends a message no one forgets.”

  “Someone had to be close enough to know you had that string for them to pull,” Nolan commented. “I’d imagine the list is narrow.”

  “It should be,” Jud admitted. He pulled out a phone and slid it across the table. “Let’s see what we can find out.”

  Vi looked at Mary, then at the phone. Cord snatched it first.

  “It’s a burner. Hit number two,” Jud said. “It’d be best if everyone stayed quiet.”

  Cord hooked the phone to the overhead speakers. Unease filled Vi as the device started ringing. A velvety, feminine voice filled the speakers.

  “Why, Jud, this is a pleasant surprise. You weren’t due to check in for another month. Are you sick of your little investigation firm already?”

  “No.” Jud’s jaw twitched. “I need some answers, Marla. I’m hoping you have them because I’m not in a good mood.”

  “You don’t sound happy.”

  “Got a call. Danny’s disappeared, Jian’s behind it and pushing me to take the Quillery Edge contract. I’m not happy, Marla.”

  “How unfortunate. Looks like you don’t have much in the way of options. It’ll be an easy six million for you.”

  “What does The Collective have to do with the contract on the Quillery Edge and Danny’s disappearance?”

  Marla sighed. “Honestly, Jud, it’s like you haven’t been paying attention. Hive was…an important ally. Losing them undermines us. I’m afraid decisions were made to neutralize the risk. They were outsourced to other interested parties. You should really stay out of that mess, Jud.”

  “Hard to do since Jian dragged me into it by taking Danny.”

  “Well, that’s true. You know Jian. He’s like the eager puppy bouncing around in the corner to get attention.”

  “You know the rule, Marla. The Collective stays away from my list. Danny and his kid were at the top.”

  “Now, Jud, we can’t control what others do. You know how many vie for our attention. It’s not our fault if they get overly enthusiastic.” She sighed again. “I warned him it was a terrible idea to get his little buddies over there to take Danny. It’s not like you’ll negotiate with anyone. But you know how Jian gets.”

  “He’s pulling my string,” Jud declared. “You’re letting him pull my strings, Marla. I’ve got problems with that, problems guaranteed to make you and everyone you report to very uncomfortable.”

  “We’re staying out of this one out of respect for you, Jud. We couldn’t stop Jian from making his move, and we can’t stop you from making yours. We stayed out of it when he got involved with Peter and Hive, too. Really, kindergarten politics are beneath us.”

  “Yeah, right. You said earlier you were nervous about Hive going down.” Jud tapped the table. “I’m thinking you’re spewing lies so fast you can’t keep them straight.”

  “I said decisions were made to neutralize the threat. I never said we made them, Judson. Now, enough with the boring drama.” Marla sing-songed the words. “I miss you, lover. It’s been rather dull around here without you.”

  Vi tightened beside Mary. Everything was connected.

  “You should’ve kept him away from my family, Marla
. You may not have issued the order, but your silence ensured its success. For that, you and The Collective will pay,” he warned.

  “You know better than to make threats. I let you get by with more than the rest of my toys, but don’t forget that’s what you are. Don’t upset me by being stupid, Jud, or I’ll be forced to punish you.”

  “I’ve never been your toy, Marla, and I don’t make threats. Clean this mess up. Get Danny back and the contract against the Quillery Edge withdrawn now, or there will be consequences. I don’t make threats. That’s a promise.”

  “Ordering us around is a mistake, Jud.”

  “No. The mistake was going after my family. This discussion is done.” He made a cutting motion.

  Mary flicked the phone off. Tension corded the room. Jud’s gaze swept the area. “In case you missed it, I just declared war on Jian Chen and The Collective.”

  Yep. Vi was pretty sure everyone in the room figured that out.

  6

  Jud chased after Jacob when he fled the room. He’d collapsed in a small alcove outside a set of double doors. Tears trekked down his cheeks. “They took Dad. The Collective is behind all this.”

  “It’s looking like it,” he admitted. He looked up and saw Viviana hovering nearby.

  “We aren’t going after him tomorrow, are we? This is going to take some time to sort out, plan.” Jacob sniffed. “Is he going to be okay? I want to go and kick their asses now.”

  “Your dad is more useful alive,” he answered. “As for going now, you know better.”

  His nephew was far from stupid. He read between the lines. So did Vi. Her gaze narrowed, her lips thinned. Hands on her hips, she gave every indication of a woman pissed. He was screwing this up.

  “There’s a lot we don’t know, not yet. I do know one thing. The two women who pulled your dad out of hell once are in the room and they need our help to find him. They’re hooked up with the best organization around. If anyone can stand against The Collective it’s The Arsenal.” He glanced at Viviana. “I don’t give a shit who’s after them and who took your dad. All I know is they fucked up. They shouldn’t have ever touched my family. Or the Quillery Edge. They will rot in hell, even if it means I have to drag them there myself.”

  “Hey, Jacob, I think Cord and Edge could use your help inside. We’re looking through all the information you helped put together on Jian,” Vi said.

  “Oh, right. I’d better get in there.” Jacob jumped up and froze when Viviana got closer. “Thanks, Quillery, for everything.”

  “We’ll find him,” she promised. “We’ll be inside in a minute. I need to talk to your uncle alone for a little while.”

  He almost wished the kid would hang around. His pulse quickened as she sat on the floor. Her legs grazed his in the small niche, but he didn’t make any attempt to move. The slight contact arced awareness between them as her gaze latched onto his. Her lips pursed.

  “You have issues,” he guessed.

  “More concerns and rules than issues, but yes. We need to clear the air about a few things.” She crossed her arms. “First off, I don’t trust you. I don’t trust you with my teams, around Mary, or anyone else here. Marshall just said you’d be put on an operational team. We had words about it, words I lost. He’d rather keep you close to a team that can take you out than have you running amok alone. Dallas wants to double tap you now and save everyone the effort of keeping you contained. Either way, when teams are in the field, I’m in charge. You do what I say. Teams don’t have room for lone wolves with attitude.”

  “Understood.” Amusement filled his voice. “Though, just to point out, I haven’t agreed to be on a team.”

  She leaned forward. Determination filled her gaze. “If you cross me, my team, or anyone else while you’re in the field, I’ll put a bullet in your brain.”

  She meant every word. He leaned back against the wall and let the torrential downpour of her anger settle to a raincloud. Viviana definitely stirred his interest. Sex had become a commonplace afterthought, kind of like hauling trashcans to the curb. He did it when it was necessary, when the pent-up need became too much to ignore.

  He loved women. Sex.

  Physical contact.

  He reached out and feathered his fingers across her exposed ankle. She twitched, narrowed her gaze, but didn’t draw away. He deepened the contact, relishing the glide of her soft skin beneath his callused hand. “You’ve got it in you to gut my boy in there. You, Edge or anyone else take your frustrations with me out on him and you’ll feel the full weight of my anger. Trust me, you don’t want that. He walks away clean from this, no matter what.”

  “We don’t hurt kids.” She uncrossed her arms and leaned back against the wall. “Where’s his mom? Is there more family?”

  “Judith didn’t handle things well the last time, back when Danny got back. The recovery was a long and painful process. Rehabilitation, reconstruction of the house.”

  “She left.” Anger edged the two words.

  “She left.” Shame and bitterness filled him. “My sister didn’t want to deal, so she left. Mom and Dad pitched in to help, moved closer to Boston to help with Jacob when he graduated early and got into MIT. Keeping up with him became a family mission.”

  One he hadn’t carried his weight in most of the time. He’d been away on assignments and handling problems before they could touch his other life, the life where everyone was clean, whole. Good.

  “He admires you,” she whispered. “His eyes light up when he talks about you.”

  “Nah, that’s love. You should know. You and Edge…you two are his idols.” Doubt reflected in her gaze when she looked up at him. “Danny came back a different man. He showed Jacob intelligence mattered just as much as brute strength, that you could be a superhero with your brain instead of muscles.”

  She swallowed and looked away.

  “He learned that from you and Edge,” Jud said. “I didn’t believe him, not at first. The stories he told sounded more like comic book tales. There wasn’t any way two women like that existed. But you did.”

  Little guns decorated tight leggings that ended just below her knee. He ran his hand up her naked calf. Stroked.

  “You are his superhero, Viviana.”

  “Don’t, don’t call me that,” she said. “I’m Vi.”

  “Two letters and one syllable don’t do you justice. You’re definitely a Viviana.” He stood, looking down at her shapely legs. He’d always been more of a knife man, but she came close to converting him with the little guns. “We’d better get inside.”

  Two letters and one syllable don’t do you justice.

  What the heck did that mean? Viviana tried keeping her mind from wandering back to the comment, but the damn thing kept burrowing through her defense system to revisit Jud’s compliment. She and Mary had led a white boarding session to end all white boarding sessions. Jud and Jacob turned over whatever information they had on Jian and his operations. The process was slower than she would’ve liked.

  “Why aren’t we heading overseas? What’s all this for?” Jacob asked.

  Vi glanced up and waited for someone else to field the questions. When no one volunteered, she waded in. The young man had been helpful and quiet for the most part, but it’d been hours. Any teenager would be crawling out of their skin by now. Vi figured he was entitled to a few answers. He wasn’t a typical teen, though. He’d graduated MIT already and was only nineteen. He was more like her and Mary than the highly trained operatives in the room. Like his uncle.

  Jud regarded her from across the room, as if sensing she was about to tackle Jacob’s questions.

  “I’m going to shoot straight with you on this, Jacob, because we’re running low on time and I know you can handle the truth, the entire truth—not just the watered-down version.” She waited for him to nod his head and focus on her. An awkward silence descended as everyone else in the room tuned in. “If we send teams overseas before handling whatever this stateside connection with
Jian is, he could go to ground and we’ll never find him. The little boy would get killed. If Jian’s network is large enough to be watching your uncle and you, they’d know you’re here. If we mobilize and go wheels up to get your dad, he could notify his people over there and the rescue mission becomes a recovery mission.”

  Translation—your father would get killed while we’re over an ocean.

  “So we’re going after the boy first? Wouldn’t Jian warn whoever has my dad when he realizes we’re going after his trafficking operation?” The boy shook his head. “That’s not fair. Dad deserves a rescue, too.”

  “And he’ll get it, Jacob,” Vi assured. “We’re cutting both heads off the snake at once. Teams will move on his stateside operations, while the majority of the teams converge on wherever your dad is held. But we need information before we can do anything.”

  She glanced at the clock. Judson had provided a location for Jian three hours ago. Without letting him or, well, anyone else in the room know, she’d sent Addy and Gage to shadow the bastard in case HERA couldn’t come up with his resources overseas. Who did the bastard trust? Which rock did they crawl under? The computer chimed as two streams of data erupted from the device. Lines of information flowed across the large table’s surface. She and Mary leaned forward and started organizing the important bits. They’d get color-coded and settled on whichever wall they pertained to. Then Bree and Rhea would hopefully have enough to extrapolate connections, the network.

  Two hours later, pain radiated from her shoulders and down her arms. Her neck was tighter than a drum. Were drums tight? She had no clue.

  “You two women need a rest. You’ve been at it nonstop for hours,” Marshall declared.

  “I’m fine,” Vi argued.

  “I’m thinking he’s right, Viviana.” Jud’s voice boomed behind her.

  When the heck had he gotten behind her? And how? The man was a stealthy ghost.

  “Lean forward, head on your outstretched arms,” he ordered. A firm hand settled on her shoulders. “Trust me.”